Pretty little things

There was this cute little town near Wilmington, Vermont - Bennington. Full of art guilds, hand-crafted, lovely things, fun pubs, etc. Truth be told, I spent a very hectic and harried morning in Bennington, driving in circles, to and fro, trying to find various specific sights - Robert Frost's homestead, a huge obelisk, etc. Didn't seem like it would be much of a challenge in such a small town, but it sure was! Ended up being very rushed, and late picking-up Tim in a town 30 miles away.

But I ended up with two lovely items, and they will make me very happy! I love buying local pottery as my souvenir, so I did just that... I had to have them shipped - no room in my densely packed suitcase. :-) Two more pretty pieces of pottery to add to my collection from Dearborn, Michigan; Acadia, Maine; Fayetteville, Arkansas; San Diego, California; Amman, Jordan...

Abrupt change of subject: I am feeling so blessed right now! I have at least 5 friends who are going through very serious trials - and here I sit, in my life of ease. Oh, I know it is a season, and hard times come and go. Mine have passed for now, and for that I'm grateful. More hard times will come. Meanwhile, my thoughts and prayers are being lifted up for these loved ones who are hurting. May their time of peace come quickly.

My buddy

Can you believe these beautiful, blue eyes? This is what I get to look into each time I spend time with my precious nephew Zachary. I have 5 other nieces and nephews who live far away from me, so I am even more thankful to have 2 living here in the same city. I think I'm in love!!

Not quite right

Sometimes I make a meal and it is just wonderful. Usually, if I'm honest. I'm a pretty good cook according to the people I feed. I can bake yummy stuff, too. Making it pretty isn't my forte. Ok, so this isn't as big a disaster as it looks. This monster is made up of all those bits that didn't want to come out of the cake pan - something for Tim to nibble on over the next week. The cake I actually served was much prettier - but it still wouldn't win any contests!

Complications

I was talking recently with a friend about how complicated life can be - all the decisions we have to make, how we spend or time, negotiating things with spouses, keeping our hearts open and tender while not being constantly wounded by life...

It does all sometimes seem like just about too much! It is (by "it" I mean life, handling it, the day to day stuff) - it is made much easier by lovely relationships. I have a great marriage, great, fun friends, a relationship with God that sustains me (rather than a religion that boxes me in), a beautiful place to live, etc., an awful lot of freedom in my personal life.

It is those relationships, though, that are the outriggers on my canoe. They help keep me even-keeled in the water of life. I am thankful for them. I know I often neglect some of my relationships (you know who you are...bear with me?). I just can't keep up with all of them, all of the time. That is a consequence of moving so much in my life. But they all are the padding around me, helping protect me from getting too banged-up and bruised on this Mr. Toad's Wild Ride of life. Yeah for friends!

Where have I been?

Seems like the last several days have just flown by! I know, I say that a lot. Well, what have I been doing? Sending pictures of my daily life to a "pen pal", volunteering at our local elementary school's book fair, going to the zoo with my 2 nephews and sister, trying to find a new pair of red shoes (red's a neutral, you know!), keeping up with my house a little better, taking care of my sick husband. 

Oh, that's why I haven't written much lately!

And now I'm off to do some laundry, sort through clothes I don't need/want anymore, get ready for Bible study, load the dishwasher, and call a friend. Whew! Maybe I'll write more this weekend. Sure is a good thing I don't have a job - I don't think I have time for one. 

In all seriousness, the whole job thing is weighing on me a little heavier lately. Tim and I are getting short on money, and it looks like we might not be selling our current renovation project in time to refill our bank account. Should I be working? Is what I contribute in the house enough (eating out less because I cook, have the energy to work at saving money, etc.)? I'm not sure. I definitely don't want to go back to work, but I think I need to ask those questions of Tim and make sure we're on the same page. I'll let you know what we decide!

Meanwhile, back to those housefrau tasks.